Florence+Kruse


 * SUMMARY: Florence Kruse, age 15, died on August 29, 1927 from complications of an abortion believed to have been perpetrated by Dr. James Aldrich. **

In 1927, fifteen-year-old schoolgirl Florence Kruse became pregnant as a result of statutory rape by Corwyn Lynch. Somebody arranged for an abortion, which was performed on August 29. Florence died that day.

Dr. James Aldrich was arrested on murder by abortion charges that day for the girl's death. However, the coroner's jury was unable to confirm that Aldrich had performed the abortion, and he was released. Florence's father, Louis C. Kruse, was booked as an accessory. However, on September 17, both men were cleared by the coroner, and on September 19 they were released. The coroner did, however, recommend that Corwyn Lynch be charged with murder. There is no record that Lynch was charged.

Florence's mother, Amanda Kirsch Kruse, was not implicated.

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see [|The Bad Old Days of Abortion] Keep in mind that things that things we take for granted, like antibiotics and blood banks, were still in the future. For more about abortion in this era, see [|Abortion in the 1920s]. Source:


 * [|Homicide in Chicago Interactive]

include component="tagCloud"